St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-13
WHISPERS.

country who does not know something
about this huge monopoly'S operations,
there is not one in a hundred that can
tell anything about how they are formu-
lated or by whom. Perhaps little in
formation given the WHIsPERER by a
New York banker, well known inst
Paul may prove interesting. He'had
been talking just the day before with
Director ANDREWS, of the Standard,
with whom he sustained close business
relations and gave the writer resume
of the conversation. 1t seems the
banker had also been in the dark as to
the controlling spirit of the Standard,
and put the question directly DAN
DREws as to who really was the brains
of the company. ANDREWS said that
the various schemes were merely
the result of sort Of cabi-
net meeting in which various
propositions were discussed behind
double locked doors and line of action
decided upon. He said, however, that
ROCKEFELLER, who has realized some
thing like $4,000, 600 out of his connec
ton with the company, was the prime
liiONOl anu llIOob luNCublNO VI OuC
cabinet. 1t was to him that they were
accustomed to look for final advice in
any deal, and it was to him that pre-
eminence was to be credited if to any
one. After given line of action, pre-
sumably the buying up of legislature or
some trifle like that, was decided upon,
different sections of the work would be
assigned to different members of the
cabinet who would be supreme in their
departments. But no one member of
the cabinet is so prominent as to oc-
casiOn an irreparable loss through his
death. 1t is collective brains, not indi-
vidual brains, that direct the company
and the collective brains would be suffi-
clent in ROCKAFELLER, FLAGLER and
ANDREWS should all be removed.
And its brains of pretty high order,
that no one can gainSay.
The same banker commented at some
length upon the difference between
Northwestern and Eastern banking
methods. He was astoniShed at the lib
erality of the Northwest, as he had OBJ
served it in st. Paul and Minneapolis,
in the matter of loans. 1t had been the
result of his inquiry that any man of
reputation and standing in the COM
munity could secure accommodation for
a substantial amount at the bank on his
single and personal Endorsement with
out security. 1t was true good rate
of interest was charged, but no more
than was just, considering the inevita-
| BILE risk. He was bound to say, how
ever, that the percentage of loss COM
| pared with the volume of business done
was no greater than with the cOnSerya-
| tive Eastern banks. He attributed this
not only to high sense of honor among
Northwestern people, but also to the
spirit of reciprocity and confidence
that prevailed. In the East
man was by custom looked
upon with suspicion until proven
all right, in the West he was looked
upon as thoroughly responsible and
trustworthy until proven rascal. His
bank, for instance, which considered
itself lucky to average 5 per cent inter
est, would not discount the paper of the
best known commercial houses in New
York without double Endorsement, so
that assurance would be made doubly
sure" But it was to this liberality in
the use of banking funds to which, in
his opinion, the amazing growth of; the
Northwest was largely due. o.
Do.you think he has ''sized it up'cor-
rectly?
A man who has strong enemies by the
law of compensation also always has
some pretty vigorous friends, and
| among his friends President j. j. HILL,
of the Manitoba, has none more
staunch or warm hearted than
p. d. ARMOUR. whose fame, is, of
course, as wide as the West. Talking
with Mr.. ARMOUR the other day, he
could not say too much in praise of Mr..
HILL. 1--WE known JIM HILL for
many years." said Mr.. ARMOUR, ''and l
regard him as one of the best men the
great Northwest possesses. He has
been criticised great deal, l know, but
l don't believe he has been properly ap-
preciated. He is man who looks out
for No. 1, of course. All successful
men must do that, but he is not man
who would rob his friends, or any one
else for that matter, to aid himself. l
think him sincere in everything he does.
He has never deceived me in
the slightest and l would believe any
thing he might choose to tell me, simply
because l have found him by expert
ence to he true. He is brainy man
and thoroughly deserves the good for
tune he has had. don't believe that
any one ever came to misfortune through
association with him, and certainly l
never heard of any one doing so. re-
gard him as one of my warmest friends,
and in all my acquaintance with him
have never had occasion to lessen my
confidence in him or think less of him.
Naturally he is thoroughly wrapped up
in the Manitoba road, which he has
done much to develop. l think the road
has good deal of merit in it both now
and i'll the future, great deal of merit,
and l look to see JIM achieve still
greater results. His road ought to CONF
pete pretty well with the Northern Pa
cific for Western business and OH ac-
count of its easier grades. can readily
understand his claim that the
Northern Pacific can only do the
business the Manitoba allows it to
do. L think, however, he is in
iudicious in pushing on to the coast,
if he really intends that The whole
Pacific coast hasn't any more people
than Cook county, and there isn't
enough business for the trans-con-
tinental lines now in operation. But.
generally speaking have great deal
of confidence in anything JIM HILL I'M
dertakes." =
A pretty good ''send off, from a pretty
brainy man don't you think?